Iron fence



(Model.) l

S. W. MARTIN.

IRON FENCE. No. 249,067. Patented Nov. 1,1881.

Unirse STATES rrrca.

Arent IRON FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,067, dated November 1, 1881,

Application filed August 8, 1881.

To ait whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. MARTIN, of' Springlield,in the county olf Clarke and State ot' Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Iron Fences, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of iron Y fences in which horizontal rails are ,connected to vertical posts by means of intermediate clamping-plates, commonly7 known as rosettes7 The object of the invention is to provide a cheap rosette by means of which the pickets may be securely attached to rails of different forms and sizes.

To this end the invention consistsin providing the rosette on its rear side with two malleable backwardly -extending arms or lips arranged at such distance apart as to admit of a railbeingintroduced betweenthem,after which the lips are hammered downwardtoward each other into such form as to closelycmbrace the rail and secure the rosette firmly in place thereon; also, in constructing the rosette so that when applied to the rail the picket will be drawn thereby firmly against the edge or face of the rail, as hereinafter explained in detail.

The form or configuration ofthe rosette may be varied as desired, provided it retains the characteristics above named, it being the intention in all cases to have the two lips or arms embrace one and the sanne rail.

In the accompanying drawings I have represented a rosette having, with the exception of the fastening-lips, essentially the same form and construction as that represented in my previous Letters Patent, No. 243,280, and this is the construction which I prefer to use.

I am aware that a picket has been provided with a supporting lip or shoulder to rest on top of a fence-rail, and with a single finger to be bent downward over the rail. I am also aware that a picket has been provided at opposite ends with two lips or lugs, one to engage over the upper and the other to engage beneath the lower rail of the fence. a notched block perforated in the middle to receive a picket has been bent at its ends around two horizontal rails lying adjacent to cach other, and these devices I do not claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

` Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofmy I am also aware that- (Model.)

improved rosette; Fig. 2, a vertical central section through the same as it appears when used in connection with a picket and rail of round form Fig. 3, a horizontal section ofthe same on the line a' n2, Fig. 1, Fig. 4, a vertical section, illustrating the manner in which the rosette is applied to a rail of a T form in crosssection.

A represents the rosette, B the horizontal fencerail, and C the vertical picket.

It will, ot' course, be understood that, as in other fences of this class,there will be top and bottoni rails, each provided with a series of rosettes arranged side by side, and that each picket will be sustained at its two ends by passing through rosettes on the respective rails.

The rosette A is constructed, as shown, of au open or skeleton form, with substantially flat faces, and with sockets or openings a, through which to pass the picket O, as in my previous patent above referred to.

Each rosetteis provided on its back with two backwardly-extending lips or studs, b, standing one above the other at such distance apart as to admit of a fence-rail of any ordinary form being inserted between them against theback of the rosette.

The device is cast of malleable iron or other malleable metal, in order that the arms I) may be hammered and bent into the required forms over and around the rail.

if preferred, the studs b may be made of wroughtiron, in which case they will be inserted in the mold and the remainder of the rosettes cast upon and around them 5 but this construction, on account of the additional eX- pense involved, is inferior to that above described.

'Ihe seats or sockets which receive the picket are so located that when the picket is in position its rear face will project slightly beyond the rear face of the rosette, so that when the rosette is secured to the rail it will serve to draw the picket firmly and rigidly against the rail, thus causing thc rail and picket to bind iirmly against each other, and preventing the picket from moving cndwise or the rosette from shifting laterally.

In making use of the rosette it is applied against the face ofthe rail with the lugs b extending past the upper and lower edges of the IOO latter, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, after which, by means of a hammer or other tool, the ends of the lugs b are closed inward in the proper form tightly against and around the rail.

It will, of course, be understood that the lugs will assume different forms, according to the form of the rails upon which the rosettes may be used.

By providing the rosette with two malleable lugs adapted to co-operate with one rail, as described, I am enabled to place upon the mar' ketarosette applicable to rails of various forms and sizes, thus avoiding the usual expense ot' providing separate patterns for each size and form of rail. The lugs thus applied also admit of the rosette being applied to rails occu pying an inclined or slanting position-a feature of great importance in the construction o of fences which stand upon inclined ground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. The improved rosette consisting of the substantially fiat frame provided with seats to receive the picket, and with two backwardlyextending lugs, adapted, substantially as described, to engage with a fencerail.

2. A rosette for connecting a fence picket and rail, provided with picket seats or bearings arranged in relation to the rear face ofthe rosette, as described, to throw the rear face of the picket backward beyond the rearface of the rosette, whereby a direct and rigid bearing of the picket against the rail is permitted.

3. In combination with a fence-rail and a picket, an intermedia-te rosette provided with bearings to receive the picket, and with two lips or lugs which clasp the rail from opposite sides, substantially shown and described.

SAMUEL W. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

GOMER E. HlGHLEY, C. C. KIRKPATRICK. 

